Baker Mayfield threw for 247 yards and two touchdowns Sunday and the Cleveland Browns' defense hassled Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers into major mistakes during a 32-23 win at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland.
Mayfield was 21 of 37 with two interceptions as Cleveland (4-1) won its fourth straight game by complementing its league-best rushing attack with key passes, particularly when it scored on all four first-half possessions.
Meanwhile, Rivers completed 21 of 33 for 243 yards, but tossed two interceptions. One was a pick-six that Ronnie Harrison Jr. took 47 yards at the 12:15 mark of the third quarter for a 27-10 Cleveland lead.
Rivers was also pressured into an intentional grounding foul in the end zone 16 seconds into the fourth quarter, giving the Browns a safety and a nine-point lead. It forced the Colts into trying to make up a two-score difference for the game's remainder.
Rookie kicker Rodrigo Blankenship converted a 25-yard field goal with 2:53 left to pull them within six points. But Cody Parkey iced the outcome by banking a 46-yard field goal, his third of the day, off the left upright with 21 seconds remaining.
Parkey initiated scoring with a 27-yard field goal about 4 1/2 minutes into the game, the first of four long scoring drives by Cleveland in the first half. After Jonathan Taylor's 4-yard run gave Indianapolis (3-2) a 7-3 edge, Mayfield flipped a 2-yard touchdown pass to Kareem Hunt 54 seconds into the second quarter.
Blankenship's 32-yard field goal evened the score at 10, but Mayfield answered with 5:58 left before halftime, finding Rashard Higgins for a 15-yard scoring strike. Parkey hit a 36-yard field goal 17 seconds before halftime for a 20-10 Browns lead.
After Harrison's interception return, the Colts rallied to make it a game. Isaiah Rodgers lugged the ensuing kickoff 101 yards for a touchdown, and Blankenship made a 37-yard field goal with 4:02 left in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 27-20.
Hunt finished the day with 72 yards on 20 carries as the Browns were held to 124 rushing yards in their first full game without injured RB Nick Chubb.
Cleveland's 4-1 start is its first such beginning since 1994, when Bill Belichick was its coach.
--Field Level Media